Beereakfast of Champions

The first stop is Bucket Brewery in Pawtucket. Bucket was founded in 2012 by two friends, Nate Broomfield and Erik Aslaksen. They started brewing together in their backyards in the summer of 2010. The goal of those first homebrews was to make enough beer for Nate’s upcoming wedding. They took their brewing to the next level when they opened a pilot brewery in the Lorraine Mills in Pawtucket. The space was only a 375-square foot room, and the equipment was largely retooled and designed to create a 1 BBL brewery. They sold their first keg of beer in November 2012, and within a couple of months it was clear that the demand was building and a bigger brewery would be needed. In August of 2013, construction began on a full-scale production brewery. Now located in a former mill, their current space is nearly 10 times larger at 3400 square feet. And with a 10 BBL brewhouse, their production capacity grew ten-fold as well.

Next stop is Foolproof Brewing, also in Pawtucket! Foolproof Brewing was founded in 2012 by Nick Garrison, a former homebrewer from Massachusetts. The company was originally named High Jinx Brewing Company. Shortly after starting operations and before initial sales to the public, it was renamed Foolproof to avoid trademark conflicts. Foolproof brewed their first batch in December 2012 and began in-state sales in January 2013. Their first head brewer was Damase Olsson, a former chemist and brewer at Nashoba Valley Winery and now-defunct Pennichuck Brewery. He is now retired and serves as brewer emeritus. The current head brewer is Steve Sharp. By the end of 2013, they doubled their production capacity and their beers can now be found in all New England states.

Our last stop takes us to Woonsocket and the folks over at Ravenous Brewing. Established in October 2012, Ravenous was the first brewery located in the northern end of Rhode Island. It was founded by Dorian Rave, a former law enforcement officer who retired as a Captain with the Central Falls (R.I.) Police Department. His obsession with beer started many years ago with a home brew kit that his wife bought him. The name of the brewery is a combination of a nod to the poem The Raven by Boston-born Edgar Allen Poe’s, as well as the founders last name. They are brewing on a 3 1/2 barrel system with custom built immersion glycol coolers to regulate the temperature during fermentation. And be sure to try their Coffee Milk Stout, a very popular beer that is a tribute to the Rhode Island staple: Coffee Milk.

Last, we hop back on the bus and head for Providence! Your knowledge will be tested with Brew Trivia. Make sure you head into Trinity Brew House after our tour and enjoy 20% off your meal just for being a Brew Bus rider! Now that’s a GREAT deal!